The world of Spanish refereeing is in mourning following the passing of Joaquín Ramos Marcos, one of the country's most renowned officials. Ramos Marcos refereed a remarkable 151 Primera Division matches, but also in international competitions, and became popular also for his collaboration in some sports media as an analyst. He died over the weekend at the age of 78, after failing to recover from a heart attack suffered on 20 December 2024.
Ramos Marcos, originally from Salamanca, began his refereeing career in 1965 and remained active for 25 seasons, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in Spanish football. He retired at the age of 46 during the 1992-93 season, after officiating a match between Real Sociedad and Sevilla on Matchday 12 in December. Additionally, Ramos Marcos contributed to various sports programs across television and radio, including El Día Después, maintaining his presence in football even after stepping down as a referee. His credentials as a referee are impressive. He refereed three Spanish Cup finals (1986-87, 1987-88, 1990-91) and performed on the international stage, having taken charge of five UEFA Cup matches and a Champions Cup encounter, the 9-0 victory of Ajax over Rabat in the Round of 16 during the 1986-87 season. He was also honored twice with the Guruceta Trophy for the best referee in La Liga, winning the award in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons.
Source: FootBoom
